The Curse Of Rejection
Secret Places

XIMUN

He didn’t wish to, but as his strides led him out of the kitchen, he allowed Aysu’s words to settle in his mind. And that made him question himself and the way he viewed the matter roused earlier. He wondered if he was indeed an Alpha King with faults due to his failure to decide that it would be better to nullify the mating ball.

Ximun searched his mind for answers but at the end of it all, he remained certain that he was doing the right thing.

So, after a deep breath, he increased his pace and approached the security wing of the palace where most surveillance was conducted.

“Your Majesty,” the men in the observation room greeted him in unison the minute he walked into the room.

“Do we have a visual of the culprit?” He wasted no time in asking that question.

“We do. It’s not so clear but it is enough to determine the identity of the person.” As the man who responded spoke, the large screen facing them displayed a low-resolution image of Beta Richard.

Ximun was hardly surprised, but he feared how the truth would affect Aysu.

“How many guards are searching for him?”

“Right now, about twenty. It is gradually becoming difficult to locate the culprit even though we know who he is.”

“He can’t hide forever,” Ximun replied. “Let’s make sure he is unable to escape to the Tarmish Pack. If that happens, it will become almost impossible to nab him.”

The man who had been responding to Ximun’s replies gave a curt nod. “We will do our best, Alpha Ximun.”

“Alright then. I will leave you to your job. Let me know if there are any issues.”

Ximun walked out after a glance at the screen and as his feet moved, he wondered whether to join Aysu in their room. It took him seconds to decide that it would be better to give her some space. So, his feet headed for his very discrete, personal space.

AYSU

Aysu ended up changing the course of her route as well. The moment she walked out of the secret door that led to the meeting room they were in earlier, she walked out of the room and took a turn towards an unfamiliar path in that space.

Unfortunately, she didn’t notice the wrong turn she took on time and when she did, she found that that part of the palace was very quiet and distant from the usual noise of the palace. So, she kept walking, part of her busy mind wondering where that place would lead.

After a few seconds, she met the end of the path which was a smallish door that was thankfully the right size for her. But as she reached to open the door, someone’s footsteps stopped her.

She turned abruptly and saw that it was Gideon.

“Gideon?” Aysu called, one of her brows arched to question his unexpected presence.

“Oh,” the man sighed, “you are doing fine. I kept calling you but you didn’t respond.”

“Oh.” Aysu placed a hand on her chest to control her emotions. Seeing Gideon reminded her of the identity of the serial killer.

“How are you doing?” he asked.

“Oh, you know. I am fine.”

For some seconds, he seemed to question her response. But he said, “That’s good. Have you seen Magnetino though? We are meant to pack and move your things to the new room.”

“Uh…”Aysu swallowed hard. “Magnetino?”

Gideon nodded, his constant innocent-looking eyes making Aysu feel guilty for contemplating lying to him.

“Did you send him on an errand?” he asked.

“No. I uh…” Aysu chose to lie. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”

Gideon focused on her. “Are you sure you are fine?”

Aysu shrugged, her eyes averting his. “I am.”

“You seem unstable.”

“Oh. I must still be weak from last night.”

Gideon snickered with a wistful expression in his eyes. “I am sure you had fun, Miss Aysu. You and the Alpha King would not stop being all over each other at the party.”

“What can I say?” Her shoulders puffed again. “The newlyweds are just trying to have fun.”

“I am glad you get to experience this, Miss Aysu,” Gideon said after he graced her eyes with his peculiar smile. “You deserve all the happiness in this world.”

“Thank you, Gideon.”

“If you see Magnetino, let him know I am looking for him. We have a lot more to do today.”

Aysu’s response almost got hitched in her throat. “I will, Gideon.”

“Alright then.”

“Bye.”

“Congratulations on becoming the Luna Queen, Miss Aysu.” His greeting made her smile despite the brewing chaos in her mind. And she was able to maintain that smile till Gideon was out of sight.

After that, her smile crashed and she faced the door again. Before she reached for the door’s knob, a shaky breath left her and she wondered if she’d be able to face Gideon after the lie she just told about Magnetino.

Something in her mind pushed that thought away and soon, she was opening the door, the bright light of the day slamming her in the face without mercy.

Once her eyes adjusted to that brightness, the sight ahead surprised her and she pondered why The Night Crimson Pack had a land of abandoned statues behind their palace. She could tell that they were abandoned because the entire area was reeking of severe dust despite it being located outside which was filled with calm, relaxing air.

The state of that area tempted Aysu to move closer and she did, her feet slow and steady while she treaded the cemented path that separated the many statues of wolves and men.

A particular statue that was coated reddish brown, a colour that was very distinct from the greyness used on others, caught Aysu’s attention, so she stopped to study its details. The object was a man with a tallness that was captured in the sculpture. As she observed the fine details of the statue’s face, she wondered if the object was an inspiration or a memory of a he-wolf that once lived in The Night Crimson Pack.

“He is General Darius, the greatest Beta Wolf the Night Crimson Pack has ever had,” a masculine voice replied to the question in her head.

But the owner of the voice wasn’t Ximun. So, after she checked if the immovable statue was miraculously tooting its own horn, she looked around, her brows creased.

“I don’t think I was asking for that detail,” she replied with caution.

“But you were curious.”

Aysu ’s eyes instantly narrowed. The voice was familiar yet unfamiliar at the same time. “Show yourself. Your secrecy is annoying.”

“You have always been impatient.” Aysu sensed light footsteps after that response. “I was trying to build on your curiosity.”

“I came here to have alone time. I don’t care about what you are building,” came Aysu’s harsh response, her eyes searching for the person speaking to her in every direction.

“Alright.” A presence was felt at her back. She turned and her heart jumped. “Here I am, my dear daughter.”

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